Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thretten, v. Also: thret(t)n-, (theretn-); threittean, threitn-, thraitn-, thraetin, thrattin, threat(t)in, -en, threatn-, threatting. [ME and e.m.E. þretni (1297), threten (Wyclif), þretten (Trevisa), threatne (1555), threaten (Marlowe), OE þréatnian. Cf. Thret(e v.]

1. To threaten (with (something) or that (something would happen)). = Thret(e v. 1. Also const. to do (something).(1) pres. 1581 Stirling Presb. 3.
We marvell that ye sould exceid the boundis of your commissioun safar as [to] threttin us with censuris 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 56/18.
Not so much as their eyes are able to shed teares (thretten and torture them as ye please) while first they repent c1650 Spalding I 219.
And forder deterrit otheris … thretning thame with the loiss of thair lives if thay repairit thither(b) 1558-66 Knox II 158.
Thay ceassit nott to molest … the inhabitantes of Edinburgh … threitnyng some with farder injureis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 135.
He was angrie with sum of the Lordis and wald threittin thame 1637 Banff Ann. I 76.
Threittean(c) 1629 Justiciary Cases I 100.
Putting ane coppie of the summondis in the lok of the dur and thraitning him that [etc.]p.t. 1594 Misc. Spald. C. II 124.
Ye thretnet and boistit your said maister and minister with ane quhinger(b) 1629 Justiciary Cases I 101.
It is nocht lybellit that scho ather thraitnet ather his hand or his leg bot only utterit sum passionet speiches(c) 1629 Justiciary Cases I 136.
The said Katharene chydit and thraitnet thame that scho sould be avengit upone thame 1661 Sharpe Witchcraft 127.
Against Margaret Hutcheson it is lybelled that she threatened John Boostp.p. 1617 Acts IV 540/1.
If anye partie of degrie of yeamen doe complayne … that he is thretned by ane vther then sall the constable apprehend the thretner 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 49.
Pastors and people adhearing to the former professione … are nicknamed Puritans, and threttned not only without aney good varrant, bot [etc.] 1680 Lauderdale P. III 197.
If the King's servants be thus hectored & threttened(b) 1567 Sat. P. iii 116.
Acan tuik the excommunicat guid: All Israell war threitnit for that sin(c) 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 460.
The said Henrie … come to the said James dwelling hous … and thraitnit and boistit his wyff with crewell wordis 1615 Crim. Trials III 273.
That ȝe … being oft tymes thraitnet and minasset be the said lait erle your father(2) 1574 Cal. Sc. P. IV 683.
[The English pirates] dang and straik me and my kupagne becaus we wald not reveill to thame that we had mony in the said ship, and thraetinit to have hangit ws all 1604 Ellon Presb. 49.
Threitning to cut hir tongue out under hir chouks 1622 Crim. Trials III 512.
The said Margaret … oppinlie thraitnet and avowet to do to the said Alexander Boig ane evill turne 1633 Cullen B. Rec. 22 Feb.
Scho … wes thrattint bostit and monassit be hir said husband to do the same 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV 495.
The said Charles Lindsey … did threatten to beat and joundied the compleaner with his armes and elbowes

b. fig. = Thret(e v. 1 b. 1627 Justiciary Cases I 66.
He allegit he was subiect to dyuers infirmiteis and diseases quhilk thraitnes his lyfe 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 56.
I sie that such as mont aloft Mishapis does threatin most of all 1643 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 118.
Till the Lord be pleisit to calm the stormes and tempestes quhairwith the land is threattint

c. To admonish or command, on pain of displeasure or punishment. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. ix 30.
And the een of tham war opnyt: and Jesus thretnyt thame, and said, Se ye that naman wit

d. To be thretned to do (something), to incur the danger of, run the risk of. 1559 Knox VI 17.
But the trooblers of God's servants, (how contemned soever they appeire before the world,) are thretnede to leve their names in execration to the posterities followinge

2. To hold out by way of a threat, declare one's readiness to inflict (some hurt or injury); to give warning of (a penalty or punishment). 1558-66 Knox II 97.
God, quha … had threatnit death, gif thay presumeit to eit of the forbiddin tre 1561 Mill Mediæv. Plays 221.
Nocht regarding the pvnisment thretnit in Goddis word vpoun the braikaris of the Saboth 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 137.
That Master Thomas, be frequenting and dayle residence mackeyn in this cite contrary to the proclamacion … incur the panis theretnet in the sayd proclamacion 1596 Dalr. II 95/16.
Doctor Irland … conuoyet … to steir vp the king of Scotis, and ernistlie persuade him to thretne weiris against Ingland 1690 Acts IX 125/2.
[Sinners are] freed from the curse thereof threatned in the law

3. a. To predict. = Thret(e v. 3 a. Also absol. b. To bode, portend. = Thret(e v. 3 b. Also with object and infinitive.a. 1567 Sat. P. vi 71.
The propheit threitnit, during his impyre, That war and battell sould his land pas throw 1581 Hamilton Facile Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 245/13.
S. Jhone … thretnis that God sal eik al the feirful plagges wrettin in thamabsol. c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 4.
Moses in his bukis dryvis, compellis, threatnis, [bet]tis and punnyssis sore, for he is a writare of the law, and [the] executare of the same 1623 Crim. Trials II 537.
Scho chaipit him on the schulder, saying, Go thy way! Thow sall nocht win thy self ane bannok of breid for yeir and day! And as scho threttinit, sa it cam to pasb. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 23.
The future, which threattingis to bathe the realmes feirfull accidentis 1616–17 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 115.
If the cause of fasting be famine threatned by intemperat weather — a1585 Maitl. Q. 260/19.
This present tyme dois threattin me To pour thir plages on my heid

c. With infinitive: To appear likely to do (something harmful). 1704 Rothesay Par. Rec. 178.
[The manse] is now in such ane ill condition that it is dangerous … to live therein, it being threatning to fall everie day